FAIRNESS

&
DEVELOPM
ENT
Most of the
obstetric fistula
victims are
underage girls, are
forced to abandon
childhood and enter
adulthood, are
victims of inequality
between sexes and
the lack of
enforcement of
laws and rights that
support them. The
non-existence of
medical help and
their bodys
immaturity,
contribute to the
development of
obstetric fistula.
The disease
promotes
depression, social
isolation and
poverty among the
girls because they
are abandoned by
their community,
segregated from

CAN IT BE CURED?
Globally, one million women suffer from Obstetric
fistula, 50 000 to 100 000 cases develop every
year and fewer than 20 000 women are treated
each year. Although the cure - a simple surgical
procedure exists this issue is still visible among
young women because they dont have access to
any medical help, most (if not all) live in small
rural areas with no hospitals or with ones that
arent appropriately equipped and/or dont have
doctors that are capable of curing them.

CAN IT BE STOPPED?
Promoting education, ending with child marriage
and providing job opportunities among women
are crucial steps to end fistula, because educated
woman are less likely to get married early, thus
reducing their chances of getting pregnant at a
young age and developing this disease.

OBSTETR
IC
FISTULA
GLOBAL CONTEXT:
Fairness & Development

A small hole is created by

the constant pressure of
the baby.

WHAT IS OBSTETRIC
FISTULA?
This disease is the most serious and tragic
injuries that can occur during childbirth,
especially on underage girls (younger than 18),
victims of child marriage.
Obstetric fistula (or simply Vaginal fistula), is a
hole between the birth canal/vagina and the
bladder or rectum. It normally starts as a kind
of tissue damage that if not treated, after days
or even years, a fistula opens up.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Obstetric fistula is caused by prolonged
obstructed labor and the girls immature body for
pregnancy.
Obstructed labor is a labor that goes unattended
and it can last up to six or seven days. The

WHAT ARE THE

CONSEQUENCES?
In general, fistula is painless, which is
probably the only advantage of this disease.
The obstetric fistula victims suffer from
incontinence and they develop a foul
smelling discharge.
The young girls and woman not only suffer
from physical but also emotional issues, as
they are commonly abandoned by their
husbands, family, friends and neighbors and
are segregated from the community.

tissues between the babys head and the

mothers pelvic bone compress creating holes
between the girls bladder/rectum and vagina.